If you weren’t in Austin, TX last month, you missed the trucking industry’s most electrifying cybersecurity event of the year. The NMFTA 2025 Cybersecurity Conference brought together the brightest minds, boldest ideas, and most passionate professionals—all united by one message: Cybersecurity is a team sport.
A Dynamic Start in Downtown Austin
We kicked things off with a rooftop reception in the heart of downtown, where old friends reconnected and new partnerships formed. The energy was contagious, and before the first session even began, the conversations were already deep in threat intel, artificial intelligence (AI), and cargo theft.
Day One: Action, Awareness, and AI
The event opened with a keynote from General Dynamics Information Technology’s David Carroll, who masterfully connected the dots between public, private, and infrastructure cybersecurity. His message was clear: trucking is now part of America’s critical infrastructure—and the industry must invest in resilience before it’s too late. His message was clear: trucking is part of America’s critical infrastructure—and the industry must invest in resilience before it’s too late.
NMFTA’s cybersecurity leadership followed with a “State of NMFTA” session,” highlighting progress made over the past year—from telematics testing and heavy-vehicle research to NMFTA’s bold response to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s cargo theft Request for Information (RFI).
Artificial intelligence quickly became the headline topic. Perygee’s Molly Breen explored how AI can both strengthen and sabotage cybersecurity defenses, urging fleets to adopt “responsible AI” frameworks. “The same tools that help us automate security can also be used by attackers,” she warned—echoing one of the conference’s major takeaways: AI is neutral; it’s how we use it that defines the risk.
A powerhouse incident response panel featuring VicOne’s Amadou Kane, Airiam’s Art Ocain, and NMFTA’s Ben Wilkens followed, offering practical advice on preparing for inevitable attacks. As we shared in our recent CCJ monthly article, attendees gained real-world playbooks for phishing, ransomware, and credential compromise—reinforcing the importance of tabletop exercises and post-incident recovery.
Unfiltered Talk: Cargo Theft and Social Engineering
The momentum was kept going by multiple presentations on the real-world impacts of social engineering, and effective ways to train employees to spot these types of attacks from Malleum’s Ahmed Shah and Langer Transport’s Jonathan Dalia, Ph.D.
The afternoon was packed with insight and candor—from generational challenges in cyber resilience to phishing awareness and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) security. Lightfoot Labs’ Jamie Lightfoot and Daimler Trucks’ Robert Zimmerman shared the proactive approach of integrating security testing into the development lifecycle, ensuring that vulnerabilities are identified and addressed before products, such as heavy-duty trucks, reach the market.
Then came one of the most talked-about sessions: a no-press-allowed panel on cargo theft, where frontline experts, Bellavance Trucking’s Casey Brown, Johanson Transportation Service’s Steve Hankel, and Werner Enterprises’ Jordan Strawn, shared raw, unfiltered stories. The takeaway? Cargo thieves are getting smarter—and collaboration between fleets, insurers, and investigators is the only way to stay ahead. As one speaker noted, “Cyber and physical theft are no longer separate problems—they’re two sides of the same coin.”
The day wrapped with a candid executive roundtable, where industry leaders Estes Express Lines’ Todd Florence, Werner Enterrpises’ Ronnie Thomas, and Kenan Advantage Group’s Tom Baughman debated how to balance security investment with operational realities. Their message: cybersecurity isn’t an IT cost—it’s a business continuity requirement.
Day Two: Hands-On Learning and Forward Vision
Day two kept the fire burning with Werner’s Thomas forecasting the future of transportation cybersecurity, emphasizing the growing intersection of fleet technology, data privacy, and compliance. Bosch’s Ivan Granero also took the stage to talk through the integration of Generative AI for text-to-J1939 applications and how it represents a significant advancement in the automotive industry.
Attendees rolled up their sleeves in a hands-on session led by NMFTA staff where they built risk registers, conducted tabletop exercises, and analyzed real-world incidents. These labs turned abstract threats into actionable defense strategies—embodying NMFTA’s mission to turn awareness into preparedness. Additionally, we offered a concurrent session: a hands-on lab led by University of Detroit Mercy’s Mark Zachos, which provided insight into what real-life impacts look like for malicious equipment on trucks, via a portable “Truck-in-the-Box.”
The afternoon offered attendees insights into combating the complexities of cargo theft with insights from cargo security experts, law enforcement officials, brokers, and cybersecurity experts: Overhaul’s Danny Ramon, NMFTA’s Artie Crawford and Wilkens, moderated by NMFTA’s Joe Ohr.
Wondering how you can assist NMFTA with its upcoming research? The staff shared how during its annual “Call for Collaboration” session where the team focused on NMFTA’s initiatives, and joint efforts undertaken with external organizations and companies, such as Samsara, to address the growing cyber threats targeting freight and logistics operations.
The event closed with a powerful keynote from Frost Brown Todd’s Gene Price, a retired Navy Admiral, who reminded attendees that protecting critical infrastructure requires the same grit, collaboration, and vigilance as any national defense mission. “The enemies of our supply chain are organized, funded, and fast,” he said. “But so are we—when we work together.”
Now it’s your turn.
If you’re ready to shape the future of freight security, join us in Long Beach for the NMFTA 2026 Cybersecurity Conference. Bring your ideas, your expertise, and your passion. Let’s collaborate, innovate, and defend the supply chain—together.
Cybersecurity isn’t a solo act. It’s a movement. Be part of it.
